Transcript NCR - Jerome Miranda

NCR
(National Capital Region)
The National Capital Region is
the
main
financial,
commercial and educational
centre of the Philippines and is
the region where nearly all
who travel here has to pass
through.

The National Capital Region not
only
contains
the
Philippines capital city Manila, but
also thirteen other cities and three
municipalities so it is no wonder
that it is the most populous region
in the Philippines. It is also the
smallest region, for those of you
who are interested.
Where are the Provin
ces in the National
Capital Region?
Unlike the other 16 Philippine Regions,
the National Capital Region does not
have any Provinces.
The National Capital Region is actually
divided into four districts. These districts
are geographically placed around the
Pasig River, which flows from Laguna
de Bay and drains into the Manila Bay.
It is a bit of a nasty river with a lot of
industrial pollution and is actually
deemed to be a dead river. There are
plans in place to clean it up, but I
guess time will tell...still waiting.
Okay lets get back to the districts.
The four districts, 1, 2, 3 & 4 have no
powers or local government
representation and are only used
to obtain statistical information,
enough said about the four
districts, let’s move on to the cities.
National Capital
Region - Cities
There are fourteen cities, which
make up the National Capital
Region or Metro Manila.
Caloocan
The landmark of the father of the
Philippine Revolution, Andres
Bonifacio is here.
The City of Caloocan (official
name: Makasaysayang Lungsod ng
Kalookan, The Historic City of
Caloocan) is one of the cities and
municipalities that comprises
the Metro Manila region (National
Capital Region) in the Philippines. It is
a major residential area inside Metro
Manila. Located just north of the
capital City of Manila, Caloocan is the
country's third most populous city with
a population of 1,378,856 as of the
2007 census.
Las Piñas
 The City of Las Piñas (Filipino: Lungsod ng Las Piñas)
(population: 532,330, 2007 Census) is a city in
the National Capital Region of the Philippines. It is
bounded on the north and northeast by
the Parañaque City; on the east and southeast
by Muntinlupa City; on the south by the Municipality
of Imus, Cavite; on the southwest and west by the
Municipality of Bacoor, Cavite; and on the northwest
by the scenic Manila Bay. Half of its land area is
residential and the remaining half is used for
commercial, industrial and institutional purposes. The
present physiography of Las Piñas City consists of
three zones: Manila Bay, coastal margin and
Guadalupe Plateau.
Makati
 The City of Makati (pronounced /məˈkɑːtɪ/ mə-KAHtee; Filipino: Makati), in the Philippines, is one of the 17 cities that
make up Metro Manila, one of the most populous metropolitan
areas in the world. Makati is the financial center of the Philippines
and one of the major financial, commercial and economic hubs
in Asia. As the host of various embassies, it is also an important center
for international affairs.
 With a population of 510,383, Makati is the 16th largest city in the
country and ranked as the 44th most densely populated city in the
world with 18,654 inhabitants per km2.
 Makati was founded by Spaniard Miguel López de Legazpi, who
dismissed Makati as a worthless swamp. According to folklore,
Legazpi asked for the name of the place but, because of the
language barrier, was misinterpreted by the natives. Pointing to the
receding tide of Pasig River, the natives answered, “Makati,
kumakati na,” literally meaning ebbing tide.
Malabon
 The City of Malabon is one of the cities and municipalities that
make up Metro Manila in thePhilippines. Located just north
of Manila, the city has a population of 363,681 as of 2007. It is
primarily a residential and industrial town and is one of the most
densely populated cities in the metropolis. It has a total land
area of 19.714 square kilometers.
 Malabon is part of the sub-region of Metro Manila informally
called CAMANAVA. CAMANAVA consists of Caloocan City,
Malabon City, Navotas City, and Valenzuela City. Caloocan lies
to the south and east, Navotas to the west, and Valenzuela to
the north. Malabon also borders the town of Obando in the
province of Bulacan to the northwest.
Mandaluyong
 The City of Mandaluyong (Filipino: Lungsod ng
Mandaluyong) is one of the cities and
municipalities that comprise Metro Manila in
the Philippines. It is bordered on the west by the
country's capital, Manila, to the north by San Juan
City, to the east by Quezon City and Pasig City,
and by Makati City to the south. At present, its
nicknames are "Tiger City of the Philippines", "Metro
Manila's Heart", and the "Shopping Mall Capital of
the Philippines".
Manila
 Manila (Tagalog: Maynila;
pronounced [majˈnilaʔ] in Tagalog and /məˈnɪlə/ (mə-NIL-ə) inEnglish) is
the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro
Manila.
 Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered
by Navotas andCaloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San
Juan and Mandaluyong to the east,Makati on the southeast,
and Pasay to the south.
 Manila has a total population of more than 1,660,714 according to the
2007 census. Manila is the second most populous city in the Philippines,
behind its neighbor, Quezon City. The populace inhabit an area of only
38.55 square kilometers, making Manila the most densely populated city in
the world. Metro Manila is the most populous metropolitan area in
thePhilippines and the 11th in the world with an estimated population of
16,300,000. The greater urban area is the fifth-most populous in the
world and has an estimated metropolitan population of 20,654,307
people.
Marikina
 Marikina, officially the City of Marikina, known as the Shoe
Capital of the Philippines, was former capital of the province
of Manila during the declaration of Philippine
Independence and one of the sixteen cities within the Manila
Metropolitan Area. Marikina is part of Eastern Manila District
of Metro Manila's four districts. It is located on the eastern
border of Metro Manila of the island of Luzon. Several cities and
municipalities lies on its border: San Mateo, Rizalto the north
and northeast, Antipolo City to the east, Cainta, Rizal to the
southeast, Pasig City to the south and Quezon City to the entire
west.
Muntinlupa
 The City of Muntinlupa (Filipino: Lungsod ng Muntinlupa) is the
southernmost city in Philippine National Capital Region. It is bordered on
the north by Taguig City; to the northwest by Parañaque City; by Las Piñas
City to the west; to the southwest by the city of Bacoor, Cavite; by the city
of San Pedro, Laguna; and by Laguna de Bay to the east, the largest lake
in the country. It is classified as a Highly Urbanized City with a population of
more than 400,000 and is given the nickname "Emerald City of the
Philippines" by the tourism establishment.
 Muntinlupa was once notoriously known as the location of the national
insularpenitentiary, the New Bilibid Prison, where the country's most
dangerous criminals were incarcerated. Consequently, Muntinlupa or
"Munti" became synonymous with the national penitentiary although it has
largely shaken-off this negative image to become one of the most
progressive cities in the country.
 Muntinlupa is also home to some of the best commercial establishments in
the metropolis and is the location of Ayala Alabang Village, one of the
country's biggest and most expensive residential communities, where
many of the wealthy and famous live.
Navotas
 The City of Navotas (Filipino: Lungsod ng Navotas) is a 1st class
city in Metro Manila,Philippines. The city occupies a narrow strip of
land along the eastern shores of Manila Bay. Navotas is directly
north of Manila, west of Malabon City, and south of Obando,
Bulacan.
 Dubbed as the "Fish Trading Capital of the Philippines", Navotas is
considered to be a very important fishing community with 70% of
its population deriving their livelihood directly or indirectly from
fishing and its related industries like fish trading, fish net mending,
and fish producing having marginal percentage of inter-Island
fish producers. Navotas occupies a portion of the Metropolitan
Manila bound in the west with shoreline of Manila Bay, which is a
strategic coastal front and suitable for all kinds of vessels.
Parañaque
 The City of Parañaque (Filipino: Lungsod ng Parañaque), or
simply Parañaque (pop. 552,660; 2007 Census), is one of the
cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in
thePhilippines. It is bordered on the north by Pasay,
by Taguig to the northeast, Muntinlupa to the southeast,
by Las Piñas to the southwest, and by Manila Bay to the west.
Pasay
 The City of Pasay (Filipino: Lungsod ng Pasay) is one of the
cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila in
the Philippines. It is bordered on the north by the country's
capital,Manila, to the northeast by Makati City, to the east
by Taguig City, and Parañaque City to the south.
 Pasay City was one of the original four cities of Metro Manila.
Due to its proximity to Manila, it quickly became an urban town
during the American Period.
Pasig
 The City of Pasig (Filipino: Lungsod ng Pasig) is one of the city
municipalities of Metro Manilain the Philippines and was the former
capital of the province of Rizal prior to the formation of this grouping of
cities designated as the National Capital Region. Located along the
eastern border ofMetro Manila, Pasig is bordered on the west
by Quezon City and Mandaluyong City; to the north by Marikina City;
to the south by Makati City, Pateros, and Taguig City; and to the east
byAntipolo City, the municipality of Cainta and Taytay in the province
of Rizal.
 Pasig is primarily residential and industrial but has been becoming
increasingly commercial in recent years. The old provincial capitol lies
off of Shaw Boulevard, outside the city. Within is The Immaculate
Conception Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Metro Manila,
and Pasig is one of the three municipalities appointed by
the diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines (as
the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pasig).
Quezon City
 Quezon City (Filipino: Lungsod Quezon) is the former capital (1948–
1976) and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on
the island of Luzon, Quezon City (popularly known to Filipinos
as QC) is one of the cities that make up Metro Manila, the
National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L.
Quezon, President of the Philippines, who founded the city and
developed it to replace Manila as the country's capital. Quezon
City is not located in and should not be confused
with Quezon province, which was also named after the president.
 Having been the former capital, many government offices are
located in the city, including theBatasang Pambansa Complex,
the seat of the House of Representatives, which is the lower
chamber in the Philippine Congress. The main campuses of two
noteworthy universities, theAteneo de Manila University and the
country's national university, the University of the Philippines
Diliman, are located in the city.
San Juan, Metro
Manila
 The City of San Juan (Filipino: Lungsod ng San Juan) or
simply San Juan is a city in Metro Manila in the Philippines.
Before the creation of Metro Manila, it was part
of Rizal Province. Currently the smallest city in the region and
the country in terms of area, San Juan is one of the smallest
among the cities and municipalities in the metropolis,
second only to Pateros. This was the site of the first battle of
the Katipunan, the Filipino revolutionary organization,
against theSpanish colonizers.
Taguig
 The City of Taguig (formerly spelled as Tagig; Filipino: Lungsod
ng Taguig) is a highly urbanized city located in south-eastern
portion of Metro Manila in the Philippines. From a thriving
fishing community along the shores of Laguna de Bay, it is
now an important residential, commercial and industrial
center. The recent construction of the C-5 highway and the
acquisition of the Fort Bonifacio development area has
paved the way for the cityhood of the municipality. It will also
be accessed by the future C-6 Road.
Valenzuela
 City of Valenzuela (Filipino: Lungsod ng Valenzuela) (ISO: PH-00;
PSGC: 137504000[10]) or simply Valenzuela City is the 101st largest
city of the Philippines and one of the sixteen cities that comprise
the region of Metro Manila, located about 14 km (7.9 miles) north
of Manila. Valenzuela is categorized by virtue of Republic Act Nos.
7160 and 8526 as a highly urbanized, first-class city based on
income classification and number of population.A chartered
city located on the island of Luzon, it is bordered
byMeycauayan (Bulacan) in the north, Quezon City and northern
Caloocan to the east; byObando (Bulacan) to the west;
by Malabon, southern Caloocan and Tullahan River to the south.
With a land mass of 44.59 km2 and a population of almost 600,000
in August 2007, Valenzuela is the 10th most populous city in the
Philippines. Valenzuela's population is composed of 72%Tagalog
people followed by 5% Bicolanos. Small percentage of foreign
nationals reside in the city.
Municipalities
Pateros, Metro Manila
 The Municipality of Pateros (Filipino: Bayan ng Pateros) is a
First-class municipality in Metro Manila, Philippines. This small
town is famous for its duck-raising industry and especially for
producing balut, a Filipino delicacy that is boiled duck egg.
Pateros is bordered by Pasig City to the north, Makati City to
the west, and Taguig City to the south.
 Pateros is the only municipality and the smallest, both in
population and in land area, in Metro Manila, but it is the
second most densely populated at around 27 thousand
people per square kilometer after Manila.
Literature
The Mats by Francisco Arellana
Valediction sa Hillcrest by Rolando S. Tinio
Bartolina by Amado V. Hernandez
Liham ni Pinay Mula sa Brunei by Ruth Elynia S. Mabanglo
Pagsalang by Joe Barrios
 Bangkang Papel
 ni Genoveva Edroza-Matute

Nagkatuwaan ang mga bata sa pagtatampisaw sa
baha. Ito ang pinakahihintay nilang araw mula nang
magkasunud-sunod ang pag-ulan. Alam nilang kapag iyo’y
nagpatuloy sa loob ng tatlong araw ang lansangang patungo
sa laruan ay lulubog. At ngayon, ay ikalimang araw nang
walang tigil ang pag-ulan.

Ilang maliliit na bata ang magpapalutang ng mga
bangkal papel, nariyang tinatangay ng tubig, naroong
sinasalpok at inilulubog, nariyang winawasak.

Sa tuwi akong makakikita ng bangkang papel ay
nagbabalik sa aking gunita ang isang batang lalaki. Isang
batang lalaking gumawa ng tatlong malalaking bangkang
papel na hindi niya napalutang sa tubig kailanman...

Isang batang lalaking nagising sa isang gabi, sa mag
dagundong na nakagugulat.
 Sa loob ng ilang saglit, ang akala niya’y Bagong Taon noon.
Gayon ding malalakas na ugong ang natatandaan niyang
sumasalubong sa Bagong Taon. Ngunit pagkalipas ng ilan pang
saglit, nagunita niyang noon ay wala nang ingay na
pumapatak mula sa kanilang bubungan.

Sa karimla’t pinalaki niya ang dalawang mata, wala
siyang makitang ano man maliban sa isang makitid na silahis.
Hindi niya malaman kung alin ang dagundong ng biglang
pumuno sa bahay ang biglang pagliliwanag. Gulilat siyang
nagbalikwas at hinanap nang paningin ang kanyang ina.

Nagsunud-sunod ang tila malalaking batong
gumugulong sa kanilang bubungan. Ang paggulong ng mga
iyo’y sinasaliwan ng pagliliwanag at pagdidilim ng bahay, ng
pagliliwanag na muli. Samantala’y patuloy ang pagbuhos ng
ulan sa kanilang bubungan, sa kanilang paligid, sa lahat ng
dako.
 Muling nahiga ang nagbalikwas at ang tinig niya ay pinatalagos
sa karimlan.

“Inay, umuulan, ano?”

“Oo, anak, kangina,” anang tinig mula sa dulo ng
hihigan.

“Inay,” ang ulit niya sa karimlan, “dumating na ba ang
Tatay?”

Sumagot ang tinig ngunit hindi niya maunawaan. Kaya’t
itinaas niya nang bahagay ang likod at humilig sa kaliwang
bisig. Sa kanyang tabi;y naroon ang kapatid na si Miling. Sa tabi
nito’y nabanaagan niya ang katawan ng ina, at sa kabila
naman nito’y nakita niya ang banig na walang tao.
 Ibinaba niya ang likod at iniunat ang kaliwang bisig.
Naramdaman niya ang sigis ng lamig ng kanyang buto. Mula
sa nababalot na katawan ni milng ay hinila niya ang kumot at
ito’y itinakip sa sariling katawan. Bahagyang gumalaw ang
kapatid, pagkatapos ay nagpatuloy sa hindi pagkilos.
Naaawa siya kay Miling kaya’t ang kalahati ng kumot ay
ibinalot sa katawan niyon at siya’y namaluktot sa nalabing
kalahati.

Naramdaman niya ang panunuot ng lamig sa
kanyang likod. Inilabas niya ang kanag kamay sa kumot at
kinapa ang banig hanggang sa maabot niya ang sahig.

Anong lamig sa sahig, ang naisip niya, at ang kanang
kamay ay dali-daling ipinasok muli sa kumot.
 “Inay,” ang tawag niyang muli, “bakit wala pa si Tatay? Anong
oras na ba?”


“Ewan ko,” ang sagot ng kanyang ina. “Matulog ka na,
anak, at bukas ay magpapalutang ka ng mga bangkang
ginawa mo.”
Natuwa ang bata sa kanyang narinig.

Magkakarerahan kami ng bangka ni Miling, ang aki’y
malalaki’t matitibay...hindi masisira ng tubig.

Dali-dali siyang nagbangon at pakapa-kapang sumiksik
sa pagitan ng kapatid at ng kanyang kausap. Idinaan niya
ang kanyang kamay sa pagitan ng baywang at bisig ng ina.
Naramdaman niya ang bahagyang pag-aangay ng kaliwang
bisig niyon. Ang kanang kamay noo’y ipinatong sa kanyang
ulo at pabulong na nagsalita:

“Siya, matulog ka na.”

Ngunit ang bata’y hindi natulog. Mula sa malayo’y
naririnig niya ang hagibis ng malakas na hangin. At ang ulang
tangay-tangay noon.

“Marahil ay hindi na uuwi ang Tatay ngayong gabi,”
ang kanyang nasabi. Naalala niyang may mga gabing hindi
umuuwi ang kanyang ama.

“Saan natutulog ang Tatay kung hindi siya umuuwi rito?”
ang tanong niya sa kanyang ina. Ngunit ito’y hindi sumagot.

Sinipat niya ang mukha upang alamin kung nakapikit na
ang kanyang ina. Ngunit sa karimlan ay hindi niya makita.

Bago siya tuluyang nakalimot, ang kahuli-hulihang
larawan sa kanyang balintataw ay ito. Tatlong malalaking
bangkang yari sa papel na inaanod ng baha sa kanilang
tapat...
 At samantalang pumapailanlang sa kaitaasan ang kahulihulihang pangrap ng batang yaon, ang panahon ay patuloy
sa pagmamasungit. Ang munting bahay na pawid ay patuloy
sa pagliliwanag at pagdidilim, sa pananahimik at paguumugong, sa pagbabata ng walang awing hampas ng
hangin at ulan...

Ang kinabukasan ng pagtatampisaw at
pagpapaanod ng mga bangkang papel ay dumating...
Ngunit kakaibang kinabukasan.

Pagdilat ng inaantok pang batang lalaki ay nakita
niyang nag-iisa siya sa hihigan. Naroon ang kumot at unan ni
Miling at ng kanyang ina.

Pupungas siyang bumangon.
 Isang kamay ang dumantay sa kanyang balikat at nang magtaas ng
paningin ay nakitang yao’y si Aling Berta, ang kanilang kapitbahay.

Hindi niya maunawaan ang tingin noong tila naaawa.

Biglang-biglang naparam ang nalalabi pang antok. Gising na
gising ang kanyang ulirat.

Naroon ang asawa ni Aling Berta, gayon din sina Mang Pedring,
si Alng Ading, si Feli, at si Turing, si Pepe. Nakita niyang ang kanilang
bahay ay halos mapuno ng tao.

Nahihintakutang mga batang humanap kay kay Miling at sa
ina. Sa isang sulok, doon nakita ng batang lalaki ang kanyang ina na
nakalikmo sa sahig. Sa kanyang kandungan ay nakasubsob si Miling. At
ang buhok nito ay walang tigil na hinahaplus-haplos ng kanyang ina.

Ang mukha ng kanyang ina ay nakita ng batang higit na
pumuti kaysa rati. Ngunit ang mga mata noo’y hindi pumupikit,
nakatingin sa wala
 Patakbo siyang lumapit sa ina at sunud-sunod ang kanyang
pagtatanong. “Bakit, Inay, ano ang nangyari? Ano ang nangyari, Inay?
Bakit maraming tao rito?”

Ngunit tila hindi siya narinig ng kausap. Ang mga mata noo’y
patuloy sa hindi pagsikap. Ang kamay noo’y patuloy sa paghaplos sa
buhok ni Miling.

Nagugulumihang lumapit ang bata kina Mang Pedring at Aling
Feli. Ang pag-uusap nila’y biglang natigil nang siya’y makita.

Wala siyang narinig kundi... “Labinlimang lahat ang
nangapatay...”

Hindi niya maunawaan ang ang lahat. Ang pagdami ng tao sa
kanilang bahay. Ang anasan. Ang ayos ng kanyang ina. Ang pag-iyak
ni Aling Feli nang siya ay makita.

Sa pagitan ng mga hikbi, siya’y patuloy sa pagtatanong...

“Bakit po? Ano po iyon?”

Walang sumasagot sa kanya. Lahat ng lapitan niya’y nanatiling
pinid ang labi. Ipinatong ang kamay sa kanyang balikat o kaya’y
hinahaplos ang kanyang buhok at wala na.
 Hindi niya matandaan kung gaano katagal bago may nagdatingan pang
mga tao.

“Handa na ba kaya?” anang isang malakas ang tinig. “Ngayon din
ay magsialis na kayo. Kayo’y ihahatid ni Kapitan Sidro sa pook na ligtas.
Walang maiiwan, isa man. Bago lumubog ang araw sila’y papasok dito...
Kaya’t walang maaaring maiwan.”

Matagal bago naunawaan ng bata kung ano ang nagyari.

Sila’y palabas na sa bayan, silang mag-iiba, ang lahat ng kanilang
kapitbahay, ang maraming-maraming tao, at ang kani-kanilang balutan.

Sa paulit-ulit na salitaan, sa sali-salimbayang pag-uusap ay nabatid
niya ang ilang bagay.

Sa labinlimang nangapatay kagabi ay kabilang ang kanyang
ama...sa labas ng bayan...sa sagupaan ng mga kawal at taong-bayan.

Nag-aalinlangan, ang batang lalaki’y lumapit sa kanyang ina na
mabibigat ang mga paa sa paghakbang.

“Inay, bakit pinatay ng mga kawal ang Tatay? Bakit? Bakit?”

Ang mga bata noong nakatingin sa matigas na lupa ay isang
saglit na lumapit sa kanyang mukha. Pagkatapos, sa isang tinig na
marahang-marahan ay nagsalita.

“Iyon din ang nais kong malaman, anakm iyon din ang nais kong
malaman.”

Samantala...

Sa bawat hakbang na palayo sa bahay na pawid at sa munting
bukid na kanyang tahanan ay nararagdagan ang agwat ng ulila sa
kanyang kabataan.

Ang gabing yaon ng mga dagundong at sigwa, ng mga
pangarap na kinabukasan at ng mga bangkang papel – ang gabing
yaon ang kahuli-hulihan sa kabataang sasansaglit lamang tumagal. Ang
araw na humalili’y tigib ng pangamba at ng mga katanungang
inihahanap ng tugon.

Kaya nga ba’t sa tuwi akong makakikita ng bangkang papel ay
nagbabalik sa aking gunita ang isang batang lalaki. Isang batang
lalaking gumawa ng tatlong malalaking bangkang papel na hindi niya
napalutang kailanman...
The Mats
By Francisco Arcellana
For the Angeles family, Mr. Angeles'; homecoming from his periodic
inspection trips was always an occasion for celebration. But his
homecoming--from a trip to the South--was fated to be more
memorable than, say, of the others.
He had written from Mariveles: "I have just met a marvelous
matweaver--a real artist--and I shall have a surprise for you. I asked
him to weave a sleeping-mat for every one of the family. He is using
many different colors and for each mat the dominant color is that of
our respective birthstones. I am sure that the children will be very
pleased. I know you will be. I can hardly wait to show them to you."
Nana Emilia read the letter that morning, and again and again every
time she had a chance to leave the kitchen. In the evening when all
the children were home from school she asked her oldest son, José,
to read the letter at dinner table. The children became very much
excited about the mats, and talked about them until late into the
night. This she wrote her husband when she labored over a reply to
him. For days after that, mats continued to be the chief topic of
conversation among the children.
Finally, from Lopez, Mr. Angeles wrote again: "I am taking the Bicol
Express tomorrow. I have the mats with me, and they are beautiful.
God willing, I shall be home to join you at dinner."
The letter was read aloud during the noon meal. Talk about the mats
flared up again like wildfire.
"I like the feel of mats," Antonio, the third child, said. "I like the smell of
new mats."
"Oh, but these mats are different," interposed Susanna, the fifth
child. "They have our names woven into them, and in our ascribed
colors, too."
The children knew what they were talking about: they knew just
what a decorative mat was like; it was not anything new or strange
in their experience. That was why they were so excited about the
matter. They had such a mat in the house, one they seldom used, a
mat older than any one of them.
This mat had been given to Nana Emilia by her mother when she
and Mr. Angeles were married, and it had been with them ever
since. It had served on the wedding night, and had not since been
used except on special occasions.
It was a very beautiful mat, not really meant to be ordinarily used. It
had green leaf borders, and a lot of gigantic red roses woven into
it. In the middle, running the whole length of the mat, was the
lettering: Emilia y Jaime Recuerdo
The letters were in gold.
Nana Emilia always kept that mat in her trunk. When any one of
the family was taken ill, the mat was brought out and the patient
slept on it, had it all to himself. Every one of the children had
some time in their lives slept on it; not a few had slept on it more
than once.
Most of the time the mat was kept in Nana Emilia's trunk, and
when it was taken out and spread on the floor the children were
always around to watch. At first there had been only Nana
Emilia to see the mat spread. Then a child--a girl--watched with
them. The number of watchers increased as more children
came.
The mat did not seem to age. It seemed to Nana Emilia always as
new as when it had been laid on the nuptial bed. To the children
it seemed as new as the first time it was spread before them. The
folds and creases always new and fresh. The smell was always the
smell of a new mat. Watching the intricate design was an endless
joy. The children's pleasure at the golden letters even before they
could work out the meaning was boundless. Somehow they were
always pleasantly shocked by the sight of the mat: so delicate
and so consummate the artistry of its weave.
Now, taking out that mat to spread had become a kind of ritual.
The process had become associated with illness in the family.
Illness, even serious illness, had not been infrequent. There had
been deaths...
In the evening Mr. Angeles was with his family. He had brought
the usual things home with him. There was a lot of fruits, as always
(his itinerary carried him through the fruit-growing provinces):
pineapples, lanzones, chicos, atis, santol, sandia, guyabano,
avocado, according to the season. He had also brought home a
jar of preserved sweets from Lopez.
Putting away the fruit, sampling them, was as usual accomplished
with animation and lively talk. Dinner was a long affair. Mr.
Angeles was full of stories about his trip but would interrupt his
tales with: "I could not sleep nights thinking of the young ones.
They should never be allowed to play in the streets. And you older
ones should not stay out too late at night."
The stories petered out and dinner was over. Putting away the
dishes and wiping the dishes and wiping the table clean did not
at all seem tedious. Yet Nana and the children, although they did
not show it, were all on edge about the mats.
Finally, after a long time over his cigar, Mr. Angeles rose from his
seat at the head of the table and crossed the room to the corner
where his luggage had been piled. From the heap he
disengaged a ponderous bundle.
Taking it under one arm, he walked to the middle of the room
where the light was brightest. He dropped the bundle and,
bending over and balancing himself on his toes, he strained at the
cord that bound it. It was strong, it would not break, it would not
give way. He tried working at the knots. His fingers were clumsy,
they had begun shaking.
He raised his head, breathing heavily, to ask for the scissors.
Alfonso, his youngest boy, was to one side of him with the scissors
ready.
Nana Emilia and her eldest girl who had long returned from the
kitchen were watching the proceedings quietly.
One swift movement with the scissors, snip! and the bundle was loose.
Turning to Nana Emilia, Mr. Angeles joyfully cried: "These are the mats,
Miling." Mr. Angeles picked up the topmost mat in the bundle.
"This, I believe, is yours, Miling."
Nana Emilia stepped forward to the light, wiping her still moist hands
against the folds of her skirt, and with a strange young shyness
received the mat. The children watched the spectacle silently and
then broke into delighted, though a little self-conscious, laughter.
Nana Emilia unfolded the mat without a word. It was a beautiful mat:
to her mind, even more beautiful than the one she received from her
mother on her wedding. There was a name in the very center of it:
EMILIA. The letters were large, done in green. Flowers--cadena-deamor--were woven in and out among the letters. The border was a
long winding twig of cadena-de-amor.
The children stood about the spreading mat. The air was punctuated
by their breathless exclamations of delight.
"It is beautiful, Jaime; it is beautiful!" Nana Emilia's voice broke, and
she could not say any more.
"And this, I know, is my own," said Mr. Angeles of the next mat in the
bundle. The mat was rather simply decorated, the design almost
austere, and the only colors used were purple and gold. The letters of
the name Jaime were in purple.
"And this, for your, Marcelina."
Marcelina was the oldest child. She had always thought her name
too long; it had been one of her worries with regard to the mat. "How
on earth are they going to weave all of the letters of my name into
my mat?" she had asked of almost everyone in the family. Now it
delighted her to see her whole name spelled out on the mat, even if
the letters were a little small. Besides, there was a device above her
name which pleased Marcelina very much. It was in the form of a
lyre, finely done in three colors. Marcelina was a student of music and
was quite a proficient pianist.
"And this is for you, José."
José was the second child. He was a medical student already in the third
year of medical school. Over his name the symbol of Aesculapius was woven
into the mat.
"You are not to use this mat until the year of your internship," Mr. Angeles was
saying.
"This is yours, Antonia."
"And this is yours, Juan."
"And this is yours, Jesus."
Mat after mat was unfolded. On each of the children's mats there was
somehow an appropriate device.
At least all the children had been shown their individual mats. The air was
filled with their excited talk, and through it all Mr. Angeles was saying over
and over again in his deep voice:
"You are not to use these mats until you go to the University."
Then Nana Emilia noticed bewilderingly that there were some
more mats remaining to be unfolded.
"But Jaime," Nana Emilia said, wondering, with evident
repudiation, "there are some more mats."
Only Mr. Angeles seemed to have heard Nana Emilia's words. He
suddenly stopped talking, as if he had been jerked away from a
pleasant fantasy. A puzzled, reminiscent look came into his eyes,
superseding the deep and quiet delight that had been briefly
there, and when he spoke his voice was different.
"Yes, Emilia," said Mr. Angeles, "There are three more mats to
unfold. The others who aren't here..."
Nana Emilia caught her breath; there was a swift constriction in
her throat; her face paled and she could not say anything.
The self-centered talk of the children also died. There was a
silence as Mr. Angeles picked up the first of the remaining mats
and began slowly unfolding it.
The mat was almost as austere in design as Mr. Angeles' own,
and it had a name. There was no symbol or device above the
name; only a blank space, emptiness.
The children knew the name. But somehow the name, the letters
spelling the name, seemed strange to them.
Then Nana Emilia found her voice.
"You know, Jaime, you didn't have to," Nana Emilia said, her voice
hurt and surely frightened.
Mr. Angeles held his tears back; there was something swift and
savage in the movement.
"Do you think I'd forgotten? Do you think I had forgotten them? Do
you think I could forget them?
"This is for you, Josefina!
"And this is for you, Victoria!
"And this is for you, Concepcion."
Mr. Angeles called the names rather than uttered them.
"Don't, Jaime, please don't," was all that Nana Emilia managed to
say.
"Is it fair to forget them? Would it be just to disregard them?" Mr.
Angeles demanded rather than asked.
His voice had risen shrill, almost hysterical; it was also stern and sad,
and somehow vindictive. Mr. Angeles had spoken almost as if he
were a stranger.
Also, he had spoken as if from a deep, grudgingly-silent, longbewildered sorrow.
The children heard the words exploding in the silence. They wanted
to turn away and not see the face of their father. But they could
neither move nor look away; his eyes held them, his voice held them
where they were. They seemed rooted to the spot.
Nana Emilia shivered once or twice, bowed her head, gripped her
clasped hands between her thighs.
There was a terrible hush. The remaining mats were unfolded in
silence. The names which were with infinite slowness revealed,
seemed strange and stranger still; the colors not bright but deathly
dull; the separate letters, spelling out the names of the dead among
them, did not seem to glow or shine with a festive sheen as did the
other living names.
END